Preocupar-se in 30 Seconds
- Preocupar-se is a common reflexive verb meaning 'to worry'.
- It requires reflexive pronouns (me, te, se, nos, se).
- It is almost always followed by the preposition 'com'.
- The phrase 'Não se preocupe' is essential for A1 learners.
The Portuguese verb preocupar-se is a fundamental reflexive verb that describes the mental and emotional state of being 'occupied beforehand' with a potential problem or situation. Etymologically, it stems from the Latin praeoccupare, where 'prae' means before and 'occupare' means to seize or take possession of. In a psychological sense, when you worry, your mind is 'seized' by a thought before the event even happens. This verb is essential for expressing concern, anxiety, or simple care for others.
- Reflexive Nature
- Because it is reflexive, the action reflects back on the subject. You are 'worrying yourself'.
- Emotional Depth
- It ranges from mild concern (checking if the oven is off) to deep clinical anxiety.
"Eu me preocupo com o seu futuro porque quero o seu bem."
In everyday life, you will encounter this word in both positive and negative contexts. While 'worry' often has a negative connotation in English, in Portuguese, saying 'Eu me preocupo com você' is a powerful way to say 'I care about you.' It implies that the person is important enough to occupy your thoughts. However, it also covers the stress of deadlines, health issues, and financial instability. Understanding the nuance between 'preocupação' (the noun) and 'preocupar-se' (the action) is key to mastering emotional expression in Portuguese.
"Não se preocupe, tudo vai dar certo no final."
- Preposition Usage
- It is almost always followed by the preposition 'com' (with).
Using preocupar-se correctly requires a grasp of reflexive pronouns and the preposition 'com'. Unlike English, where you 'worry about' something, in Portuguese, you 'worry yourself with' something. The conjugation follows the regular '-ar' pattern, but the pronoun must shift. For example, 'Eu me preocupo', 'Tu te preocupas', 'Ele se preocupa'. In Brazil, the placement of the pronoun often comes before the verb (próclise), while in Portugal, it often follows the verb (ênclise), especially in formal writing.
"Nós nos preocupamos com a poluição do meio ambiente."
When forming the imperative (giving advice or commands), the phrase 'Não se preocupe' is perhaps the most common sentence you will hear. It is the equivalent of 'Don't worry.' If you are speaking to a friend informally (using 'tu'), you would say 'Não te preocupes'. This distinction is vital for social integration. Furthermore, when the verb is used in the infinitive after another verb, the pronoun can be attached: 'Você não precisa se preocupar' or 'Você não precisa preocupar-se'.
- Common Tenses
- Present: Eu me preocupo. Past: Eu me preocupei. Future: Eu vou me preocupar.
You will hear preocupar-se in almost every facet of Lusophone life. In the family home, parents constantly tell their children 'Não se preocupe com a louça' (Don't worry about the dishes) or ask 'Por que você está se preocupando tanto?' (Why are you worrying so much?). In the workplace, a manager might say 'Eu me preocupo com o prazo de entrega' (I am concerned about the deadline), signaling a need for focus and urgency.
"O governo se preocupa com a inflação deste mês."
In news broadcasts, journalists use it to describe public sentiment regarding the economy, security, or health crises. In romantic songs (Fado or Bossa Nova), it often appears as a plea for a lover not to worry about the distance or the future. It is a word that bridges the gap between cold logic and warm empathy. Even in medical contexts, a doctor might say 'Não há motivo para se preocupar' (There is no reason to worry), providing relief to a patient.
The most frequent error for English speakers is omitting the reflexive pronoun. Saying 'Eu preocupo com isso' is grammatically incorrect; it must be 'Eu me preocupo'. Another mistake is using the wrong preposition. English speakers often want to use 'sobre' (about) because of the direct translation, but 'preocupar-se com' is the standard requirement.
Incorrect: Eu preocupo sobre o teste.
Correct: Eu me preocupo com o teste.
Confusing 'preocupar-se' with 'ocupar-se' is also common. While they share a root, 'ocupar-se' means to be busy with a task or to handle something, whereas 'preocupar-se' is the mental state of anxiety. If you say 'Eu me ocupo com o trabalho', you are saying you are working. If you say 'Eu me preocupo com o trabalho', you are saying the work is making you anxious. Finally, watch out for the spelling: it is 'preocupar', not 'pre-ocupar' or 'priocupar'.
While preocupar-se is the most common term, Portuguese offers several synonyms that convey different intensities of worry. Inquietar-se suggests a lack of peace or restlessness. Afligir-se is much stronger, implying deep distress or suffering. Ralar-se is a more colloquial, almost slang-like term used in Portugal to mean 'to care' or 'to worry'.
- Angustiar-se
- To feel anguish or severe anxiety.
- Cuidar
- Sometimes used in the sense of 'to mind' or 'to look after', which can overlap with concern.
"Ela se inquieta com o silêncio do filho."
On the opposite end, we have despreocupar-se, which means to stop worrying or to become carefree. Learning these variations allows you to describe your emotional state with much higher precision. For example, 'estar apreensivo' (to be apprehensive) is a common state that often leads to 'preocupar-se'.
How Formal Is It?
Difficulty Rating
Grammar to Know
Reflexive Pronouns
Pronominal Placement (Próclise/Ênclise)
Prepositional Verbs
Imperative Mood
Subjunctive Mood
Examples by Level
Não se preocupe.
Don't worry.
Imperative form.
Eu me preocupo com você.
I worry about you.
Present tense + reflexive pronoun 'me'.
Você se preocupa com o gato?
Do you worry about the cat?
Question form.
Ela se preocupa muito.
She worries a lot.
Third person singular.
Nós nos preocupamos com a prova.
We worry about the exam.
First person plural.
Eles se preocupam com o pai.
They worry about their father.
Third person plural.
Não te preocupes.
Don't worry (informal/Portugal).
Informal imperative.
Eu não me preocupo com isso.
I don't worry about that.
Negative sentence.
Eu me preocupei com o atraso.
I worried about the delay.
Pretérito Perfeito.
Por que você se preocupa tanto?
Why do you worry so much?
Interrogative with adverb 'tanto'.
Nós vamos nos preocupar com isso amanhã.
We are going to worry about that tomorrow.
Immediate future.
Ele sempre se preocupa com dinheiro.
He always worries about money.
Frequency adverb 'sempre'.
Vocês se preocuparam com a notícia?
Did you all worry about the news?
Past tense question.
Minha mãe se preocupa quando eu saio.
My mother worries when I go out.
Subordinate clause with 'quando'.
Não precisamos nos preocupar agora.
We don't need to worry now.
Infinitive after 'precisar'.
O médico se preocupa com a sua saúde.
The doctor worries about your health.
Subject-verb agreement.
Duvido que ele se preocupe com as regras.
I doubt that he worries about the rules.
Present Subjunctive.
Se você se preocupasse mais, teria melhores notas.
If you worried more, you would have better grades.
Imperfect Subjunctive + Conditional.
Eu me preocuparia se fosse você.
I would worry if I were you.
Conditional tense.
Ela tem se preocupado muito ultimamente.
She has been worrying a lot lately.
Present Perfect Continuous (Portuguese style).
É importante que nos preocupemos com o planeta.
It is important that we worry about the planet.
Impersonal expression + Subjunctive.
Eles se preocupavam com coisas sem importância.
They used to worry about unimportant things.
Imperfect Past.
Ao se preocupar demais, você fica doente.
By worrying too much, you get sick.
Gerund-like use of personal infinitive.
Espero que vocês não se preocupem com o custo.
I hope you don't worry about the cost.
Subjunctive mood.
A sociedade se preocupa cada vez mais com a privacidade.
Society worries more and more about privacy.
Adverbial phrase 'cada vez mais'.
Não vale a pena se preocupar com o que os outros pensam.
It's not worth worrying about what others think.
Idiomatic expression 'vale a pena'.
O governo deve se preocupar com a desigualdade social.
The government must worry about social inequality.
Modal verb 'deve'.
Sempre que me preocupo, tento meditar.
Whenever I worry, I try to meditate.
Temporal conjunction 'sempre que'.
Ela se preocupa em manter a casa limpa.
She worries about keeping the house clean.
Preposition 'em' followed by infinitive.
Apesar de se preocupar, ele manteve a calma.
Despite worrying, he kept calm.
Concessive conjunction 'apesar de'.
Ninguém se preocupa tanto quanto ela.
Nobody worries as much as she does.
Comparative structure.
É natural se preocupar antes de uma grande mudança.
It's natural to worry before a big change.
Impersonal 'É natural'.
O autor se preocupa em desconstruir mitos nacionais.
The author is concerned with deconstructing national myths.
Formal literary context.
Caso se preocupem com a segurança, liguem para este número.
Should you worry about security, call this number.
Future Subjunctive (Hypothetical).
Não há por que se preocupar com minúcias irrelevantes.
There is no reason to worry about irrelevant details.
Sophisticated vocabulary ('minúcias').
Preocupar-se-ão eles com as consequências a longo prazo?
Will they worry about the long-term consequences?
Mesoclisis (very formal future).
A medida que se preocupa, sua produtividade diminui.
As he worries, his productivity decreases.
Proportional conjunction.
Ele se preocupa sobremaneira com a opinião pública.
He worries exceedingly about public opinion.
Formal adverb 'sobremaneira'.
Oxalá não nos preocupemos com tais futilidades.
Hopefully we won't worry about such trivialities.
Archaic/Formal 'Oxalá'.
O filósofo se preocupa com a essência do ser.
The philosopher is concerned with the essence of being.
Abstract academic context.
A ontologia se preocupa com a natureza da existência.
Ontology is concerned with the nature of existence.
Highly academic subject.
Pudesse eu não me preocupar, viveria em paz.
Could I but not worry, I would live in peace.
Inverted conditional/optative.
A preocupação em si é um fardo que ele se recusa a carregar.
Worrying itself is a burden he refuses to carry.
Substantivized infinitive.
Não obstante se preocupar, agiu com destreza.
Notwithstanding his worry, he acted with dexterity.
Formal 'Não obstante'.
Preocupar-se-ia o fado com o destino dos homens?
Would fate concern itself with the destiny of men?
Poetic mesoclisis.
Sua alma se preocupa com as sombras do passado.
His soul is troubled by the shadows of the past.
Metaphorical usage.
A despeito de quanto se preocupem, o resultado é incerto.
Regardless of how much they worry, the result is uncertain.
Complex concessive phrase.
O texto se preocupa em tecer uma crítica mordaz ao sistema.
The text is concerned with weaving a biting critique of the system.
Figurative 'tecer'.
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
Often Confused With
Idioms & Expressions
Easily Confused
Sentence Patterns
How to Use It
Essential for the meaning 'to worry'.
Preocupar [alguém] means to worry someone else.
- Omitting the reflexive pronoun.
- Using 'sobre' instead of 'com'.
- Confusing 'preocupar-se' with 'ocupar-se'.
- Misspelling as 'priocupar'.
- Using the wrong pronoun for the subject.
Tips
Pronoun Match
Ensure 'Eu' goes with 'me' and 'Nós' with 'nos'.
Synonym use
Use 'inquietar-se' for a more literary feel.
Politeness
Use 'Não se preocupe' to be polite when someone apologizes.
Vowel reduction
In Portugal, the first 'e' is very short.
Fillers
Use 'Não se preocupe' as a filler while thinking.
Formal letters
Use 'Manifesto minha preocupação com...' for formal complaints.
News
Listen for 'preocupação' in economic reports.
Pre-Occupy
Link it to being pre-occupied with a thought.
No 'about'
Forget 'about', use 'with' (com).
Reflexive
Always check for the 'se' in the dictionary.
Memorize It
Word Origin
Latin
Cultural Context
Commonly use 'Não esquenta' as a slang for 'Don't worry'.
More likely to use 'Não te rales' or 'Não te preocupes'.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Conversation Starters
"Com o que você mais se preocupa?"
"Você se preocupa com o futuro?"
"Seus pais se preocupam muito com você?"
"Não se preocupe, quer ajuda?"
"Por que os brasileiros se preocupam tanto com futebol?"
Journal Prompts
Escreva sobre algo que te preocupa hoje.
Como você se sente quando alguém diz 'não se preocupe'?
Descreva uma vez que você se preocupou à toa.
Quais são as maiores preocupações da sua geração?
O que você faz para parar de se preocupar?
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsNo, it must be 'Eu me preocupo' if you are the one worrying.
The first is the action/process, the second is the state of being.
It is neutral and can be used in most situations.
Não se preocupe comigo.
Usually, yes. Sometimes 'em' if followed by an infinitive.
Yes, it follows the standard -ar verb conjugation.
In Brazil, 'esquentar a cabeça' or 'esquentar'.
Estou preocupado (male) or Estou preocupada (female).
It is better to use 'com', though 'sobre' is sometimes understood.
In Brazil, it usually comes before: 'se preocupar'.
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Summary
Mastering 'preocupar-se' involves more than just the verb; it requires understanding reflexive pronouns and the preposition 'com' to express care and anxiety correctly in Portuguese.
- Preocupar-se is a common reflexive verb meaning 'to worry'.
- It requires reflexive pronouns (me, te, se, nos, se).
- It is almost always followed by the preposition 'com'.
- The phrase 'Não se preocupe' is essential for A1 learners.
Pronoun Match
Ensure 'Eu' goes with 'me' and 'Nós' with 'nos'.
Synonym use
Use 'inquietar-se' for a more literary feel.
Politeness
Use 'Não se preocupe' to be polite when someone apologizes.
Vowel reduction
In Portugal, the first 'e' is very short.
Related Content
More emotions words
a sério?
A2seriously?, an expression of surprise, disbelief, or to check earnestness
abalado
A2Emotionally disturbed or upset; shaken.
abalar
A2To shake or disturb (emotionally); to affect deeply.
abalo
A2Shock, emotional disturbance; a sudden, disturbing, or upsetting emotional experience.
abandonado
B1Left by the owner or inhabitants; deserted.
abatidamente
B1In a dejected or disheartened manner; dejectedly.
abatido
A2Dejected; sad and depressed; dispirited.
abatimento
A2Dejection; a sad and depressed state; low spirits.
abertamente
A2openly, frankly; without concealment; publicly.
abismado
B1Filled with astonishment or wonder.
